Best Week Ever

Today we celebrated Max's one week birthday. (Yes, we're new parents. Let us have our fun.) Both Elisa and I can say without hesitation that this has been the greatest week of our lives.

Here are a few highlights we wanted to share:

Max's first photo.

Mom's reward for a long pregnancy... a sushi dinner from Auntie Mer & Uncle ET.

Elisa reads the little man his first book. He's an attentive dude.

First stroll.

Baby's got Barack.

Yes, Max you have a question? Your doctor says you're doing great, son. In fact, she said you're very alert for a newborn.

A trip to Safeco Field to see where daddy works and where he'll be spending a majority of his summers.

Mom.

Dad.

One happy family.

Friends of Max

Many thanks to all of the friends of Max (FOMs) who have visited us, sent gifts, dropped off food, brought flowers, emailed congratulations, Facebooked us (yes, that's a verb), called, texted or stopped by the blog. Your outpouring of support has made this unbelievable week even better.

If you haven't had a chance to meet Max, come on over and become a member of the FOMily.

Mighty are the men who wear the purple and the gold

A boy and his dog

Our 2-1/2 year old pooch, Winnie is starting to dig her new housemate.

When we first got home from the hospital Winnie seemed less interested in Max and more excited to just have us back. That was until he started making noise in his crib. Which elicited the perplexed "Are you guys hearing what I'm hearing?!" from Winnie below.

After a few days, you can see why they call canines man's best friend.

A few moments during Max's first few hours

More layers please

Max's first stroll. We swear he's in there somewhere.

This is the sign you want to see...

When you're out of Pampers at 3 o'clock in the morning.

Max is heading home

Grape Grandparents

Happy Birthday Maxwell Ridley Greene!

Say hello to Max.

Born this afternoon at 1:11 p.m. at 7lbs 2oz and 20.5" long, he is the grape turned love of our life.

Elisa was an absolute trooper through nearly 18 hours of labor and over 2 hours of pushing. Max is lucky to have such a strong and beautiful mommy.

Thank you for all the calls and messages today. We can't wait to introduce you to this perfect little man.

11:30 update

Pushing...

10:20 update

Elisa is fully dialated.

We're trying to get the baby to flip over and face down.

Then, it's an hour or three of pushing.

All are still doing good!

9:20 Update

Elisa's at 8cm and feeling pressure.

New eta is 11a-3p.

Everyone is still doing well.

We can't wait to meet our son!

8:20am update

Elisa is about 5cm dilated. She was induced last night around 11:30.
After a late-night/early morning epidural, she is feeling just fine thank you very much.

We expect the baby to be born sometime before noon today.

Both he and Elisa are doing great!

Here we go...

Elisa's water broke at 5:45 this evening and we're now at the hospital. Everyone is doing great.

Stay tuned...

Junior!

I'm going to be able to take my son to Safeco Field to see Ken Griffey Jr. play for the Mariners. Words can't describe how excited I am. Elisa has been watching me bounce around the house crowing, "Griffey's coming back!" for about the last three hours, so she definitely gets it.

No, we're not going to name the grape Ken Griffey Greene... but, I tried.

While it may never be the same, here's a look back at why we love Junior: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200902193847956&c_id=sea

Bump Update

Elisa looks a little happier. Must be because we're gettting close... or her new shoes!

4-for-3

No, 4-for-3 is not the newest Mariners ticket promotion. Save the smart comments from the peanut gallery. There's lots to be excited about in MarinerLand! The 4-for-3 is in reference to the shower the folks from the office threw for the three daddies above, who are expecting four babies. Sorry mom, Elisa and I are only having one of those.

Mike Aceto (middle) is expecting twin boys in April and and Michael Ferguson (right) is expecting his third bundle of joy anytime now.

You can tell the ladies in the office decorated because none of the fellas would've even laid down a table cloth. Nice job!

Thanks for the thoughtful gifts for the grape. We can't wait to bring him to the park to introduce him to everyone... with the possible exception of the Moose. That could mean years of therapy down the road.

Week 37: Full on full term!

Woo. Our little green grape is now full term and Elisa has extended him an open invitation to make his debut anytime. She is now seeing her doctor weekly. At her appointment today everyone checked in ok. The baby's heartbeat is strong and Elisa belly is growing at proper rate.

If you're keeping score at home, this week's BabyCenter.com produce conversion has our mini man clocking in at the length of a stalk of swiss chard, about 19-inches long. Boy, I'm going to miss our weekly fruit & vegetable updates.

Tomorrow is Elisa's last day of work. Please wish her well as she gets ready for a new career with a new boss!

More Monkey Business

Elisa swaddling our little stuffed stand-in.

Week 36: Crenshaw Melon

Week 36. Now less than 4 weeks to go. I think Elisa hopes much less.

The grape is now considered fully viable and weighs in at an estimated 6-pounds, which is about the size of a crenshaw melon. I gotta be honest, I again had never heard of this fruit, but Elisa filled me in. So, I'm not only learning how to become a good dad, but I'm also learning how to run a produce stand.

Mama E has officially entered the "I'm ready for this to be over with" stage. Back problems, difficulty sleeping, itchy skin and a dash of carpal tunnel syndrome thrown in for good measure have taken their toll on poor Elisa over the past weeks. She has been such a trooper and I'm so thankful for her strength over these past eight months.

The countdown continues...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Elisa's girlfriends, spearheaded by Noelle (soon to be know as Auntie Noelle), threw her a shower last Sunday at Cafe Flora, leaving me home to eat onion dip and potato chips and watch the Superbowl pre-game show.

Man, I'm gonna make a great dad.

I love the pic above of happy Elisa unwrapping the blanket from and made by Sara and Lucia. Nice work ladies! Our little dude will look awesome all wrapped up snug in your handiwork.

Kelly and Traci waiting to be served. Waiter!

The aforementioned blanket-making, crime-fighting duo of Sara & Lucia.

And the lady that made it all happen... Noelle!

Elisa was also excited that Megan, Melissa & Kat were able to join in the breakfast and baby festivities (I just didn't find any pictures of them at the event--sorry)! In facing her new role as a mom, it's good to know that she has such wonderful friends.

From Elisa: Thank you Melissa, Megan, Kat, Kelly, Traci, Lucia, Sarah and, most especially, Noelle for an amazing baby shower! I am very touched by all of your support and affection as I face this new chapter in my life.

PS-I'm also very touched by everyone else who wanted to come by was felled by this dreadful cold season.

Practice makes perfect

New swing is good for Elisa. Me? Not so much.

Big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Ridley for the super cool new swing chair. (Winnie approves, too)

But, what's up with the sexist sales pitch on the side of the box?!

Apparently, in 2009 our friends at Fisher-Price seem to think that only moms are raising babies. Dads say it with me, "Lame."

BTW - this is offensive in Spanish as well, Fisher-Price. Pendejos.

What we have to look forward to